On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 12:58:20 -0400, "Proctologically
Violated??" wrote:

Awl--

I suppose it's not quite as magnetic as plain carbon steel.
And perhaps a spark test? Characteristics?
Oh, I guess you could use the O/A test: it don't cut!! But that's pita...

I've heard of machinists/heat treaters who have "catalogued" hundreds of
alloys merely by the spart test on a grinding wheel--keep a box w/ reference
samples. wow...
----------------------------
Mr. P.V.'d
formerly Droll Troll



Copper sulphate solution - about one teasponful per
cupful of water plus a few drops of battery acid.

Scrape surface clean and apply with a Qtip. Carbon
steels will almost instantly develop a bright copper sheen.
Stainless steels will remain unaffected.

The solution will work without the battery acid
addition but the action is much slower.

Jim